Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 83

Devanagari script

विकला दारुणाञ्छब्दानुद्गिरंती मुहुर्मुहुः । कथयस्व यथातथ्यं रामो राजाभिपृच्छति

Transliteration

vikalā dāruṇāñchabdānudgiraṃtī muhurmuhuḥ | kathayasva yathātathyaṃ rāmo rājābhipṛcchati

Translation

వికలమై, మళ్లీ మళ్లీ కఠిన శబ్దాలు పలుకుచూ—యథార్థముగా ఉన్నదే చెప్పుము; రాజా రాముడు నిన్ను ప్రశ్నించుచున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• vikalā: distressed/weak
• vikalā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्त्री पर)

• dāruṇān: terrible
• dāruṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (शब्दान्)

• śabdān: sounds/cries
• śabdān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• udgiraṃtī: uttering
• udgiraṃtī: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + gir (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly)

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (repeated for emphasis)

• kathayasva: tell (you)
• kathayasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (धातु-प्रयोजक/णिजन्त from kath)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yathā-tathyam: truthfully/as it really is
• yathā-tathyam: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + tathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् एकपदम्; अर्थः ‘यथातथ्येन’

• rāmaḥ: Rama
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘रामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• abhipṛcchati: asks/inquires
• abhipṛcchati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + pra + pṛcch (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Dūtāḥ (Rāma’s messengers)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The woman, trembling and crying out, is urged by the messengers to narrate the truth because King Rāma himself asks; messengers’ posture is firm yet compassionate.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Truthful speech (satya) is essential for dharmic resolution—especially when justice is sought from a righteous ruler.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader frame is Dharmāraṇya; this verse emphasizes ethical conduct (truth-telling) rather than a particular tirtha’s merit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the instruction is moral—speak truthfully.